Fury tracks will they fit a firefly?

[Rodders154]

Hi Chaps

 

I dislike individual tracks on kits.

 

Could I use the tracks off the 1/35 italeri fury on the Dragon Firefly because as I see it they are both the extended length tracks.

The Fury kit has 2 sets of tracks so both kits can be built if I rob one set for the Firefly.

 

Many thanks in advance

 

Rodders

[Dads203]

Hi Rodders,

 

You might be okay but you’ll have to check the sprockets, the pitch of the teeth might be slightly different and throw off the track somewhat. I’ve found this with some AM tracks in the past. If there are any hull length differences that might also throw up track length issues such as being to tight or slack.

 

Dan 

 

[Troy Smith]

Sherman tracks are a confusing area, we have some very knowledgeable members on this, IIRC @Das Abteilung may well be able to add more, but a quick google shows that the Italeri kit is an M4A3E8 ,  the E8 has HVSS suspension,  and wider tracks compared to non HVSS types, which is what a Firefly is.

 

I don't know what the two track types are in the Italeri kit though. 

quick search

 

HVSS tracks

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/hvss_tracks.html

 

VVSS tracks

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/vvss_tracks.html

 

 

main home page I can recommend having a look here 

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/index.html

 

as you should be able to find the answer, but it's a very complex subject....

[Bullbasket]

.........also, you don't say whether the Firefly is a 1c or a Vc. Different spacing of the VVSS units. Also, as Troy says, Italeri's Fury has HVSS units, so the short answer is no

 

John.

[Kingsman]

I think your confusion with the Dragon tracks may be because of extended end connectors, commonly called duckbills and sometimes incorrectly called grousers (which were something different).

 

These were fairly flimsy pieces added to the end connectors to widen the track with the aim of lowering ground pressure.  VVSS M4 16" tracks were really too narrow for the vehicle's weight.

 

As noted above, the Fury kit is a 2nd generation Sherman fitted with the later HVSS suspension and 23" tracks.  One major difference in the later tracks was the use of a single central guide horn with twin bogie wheels.  The earlier type had guide horns at each edge and single bogie wheels.  So the compatibility answer is a resounding no.

 

You would discover this anyway as the central guide horns would completely prevent you fitting HVSS track to VVSS suspension.

 

Everything you could ever wish to know about Sherman variants and configurations can be found here: http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/

[Rodders154]

Thank you everyone for your help.  Due to postings on here I had my attention drawn to the "bumps" down the middle of the tracks 

 

Do'h

 

Rodders

[Kingsman]

4 hours ago, Rodders154 said:

the "bumps" down the middle of the tracks 

Are called guide horns.

[Troy Smith]

On 18/03/2020 at 10:53, Rodders154 said:

I dislike individual tracks on kits.

 

Could I use the tracks off the 1/35 italeri fury on the Dragon Firefly

a suggestion, see if someone who has an older Sherman kit with one piece tracks wants to swap the individual inks for some standard tracks, try the trade section.

[PDH]

For those interested these are best sites I know of that describe the various types of Sherman track -

 

VVSS - http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/vvss_tracks.html

 

HVSS - http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/hvss_tracks.html

 

HTH

P

Edited March 20, 2020 by PDH
Grammar!!

[FG2Si]

I might have some leftover one piece tracks from an Asuka Vc Firefly. Those should work on the Dragon kit. You can have them for the postage if I do have them. 

 

Carl

[Rodders154]

Thanks Carl, PM sent

 

Rodders